Sunday, April 18, 2010

Last week Cheri, from "It's So Very Cheri",asked me to do a guest post for her Thursday Tute. I wanted to share a project that was easy to do, but had a big transformation. So if you didn't see the tutorial over at It's So Very Cheri, I’m going to share with you my "TUTE". Here's the step by step instuctions to turn an Ordinary lampshade into something extra-ordinary.

Let me first share with you my ordinary lampshade.

I like the style of the lampshade. It has good “bones” but it’s just to plain for my taste.

Now it’s time to started transforming this lampshade. First step is to gather your materials. I always use a few different fabrics and trims. I decided to cover this lampshade in a solid gold silk with a coordinating print fabric. The fabric was a gold silk fabric that had a black stripe.It almost looks like a thin zebra print. Next, I selected a beaded trim, and two different braid trims.

Let’s get to work… The first step is to remove the bias trim from the lampshade. Here’s a trick. Use the steam from your iron to heat up the glue that holds the bias tape to the lampshade. This makes the bias tape very easy to pull off and you won’t rip the shade.

Once all the bias tape is removed, we need to make a pattern. Simply take a piece of paper and trace one of the sections with a marker. (Make sure the marker does not bleed onto the lampshade)

Pin your pattern onto your fabric and cut out the pattern.

This lampshade had six sections, so I needed to cut 3 pieces of each of my two different fabrics.

Now is the time to iron the fabric. Make sure you get all the wrinkles out. Once it’s on your lampshade you want it to look perfect!

Let’s heat up your glue gun and start to glue the sections onto the lampshade. Run a bead of glue along the top edge of the first section, and then continue down one side. Place the glue directly on top of the bias tape. When you have finished gluing down one side, continue on the other side of the section. Finish by gluing the bottom of the fabric to the lampshade.

Now you can begin to use the other coordinating fabric. Glue the fabric to the section that is next to the section you just completed. Continue gluing each section alternating fabric patterns, until you have done the entire lampshade. This may look a bit messy but just wait, the trim makes all the difference.

Let's start putting the trim on. You won’t believe how much this changes the look. Run a bead of glue where the two different fabrics meet each other.

Continue working all the way around the lampshade. Can you see how the trim hides any little problems.

Next step is to use the other braided trim and glue it to the top edge of the lampshade. When you get all the way around turn under the raw edge and overlap the trim and glue.

Now to finish off the bottom of the shade. First step is to glue on the beaded trim. This can be done just like the top edge.

When using beaded trim, the ribbon edge needs to be covered to give it a professional look. I used the same braid trim as I did on the top of the lampshade. Just glue the braid directly on top of the ribbon on the beaded trim. Didn’t I tell you that the trim really added a lot!

Now for the fun part….. Place the lampshade onto the lamp and turn on the light.

It’s time to admire your creation. A one of a kind custom lampshade.

Hard to believe it’s the same lampshade, isn’t it?

Whenever possible I love to use the beaded trim. I like the “Sparkle” it adds when the lights are turned on! Take a look around your house and turn that ordinary lampshade into something extra-ordinary. It’s easy and you can do it. If you re-do one of your lampshades I'd love for you to send me a photo.I'll be linking up to the following creative sites:

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comments:

Hi there ~ It's incredible!! What a wonderful transformation!!! Your tutorial is so clear and helpful - covering lampshades always seemed so complicated to me that I was totally intimidated to try it. I think I can do it now! You're so right about the trim, especially putting it on the ribbon that holds the beads - wow - that does look professional.

Hi Sherry! Oh, how pretty your lamp shade is! You did a great job and I appreciate the tutorial! I have been thinking of doing this to the lamps in my bedroom, but I've been a bit scared! I think you've given me the courage to tackle it! Be a sweetie,Shelia ;)

I'm glad you did this....I have the lampshade ready and the fabric cut out, and I was leary to begin to adhere, but you made it look so easy. I am planning on 6 different coordinated fabrics - hope that will look ok???? Thanks for the great tute!

Hi, I'm stopping by from NTT at Coastal Charm. I'm really glad I did. I was going to look for two new lampshades fot a pair of lamps I've had for a while and just spray painted this week. I'm inspired now to recover them instead. Thanks!

Thanks so mnuch for this tutorial, I just found you from your desk post on Funky Junk Interiors SNS and decided to take a peak at other posts. I am so glad that I did. I have a lamp shade just like yours that I wanted to jazz up and just didn't know how to do it. Now I know exactly what I am going to do!!!!!!

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LIFE IS A BLESSING...
I am a married to a wonderful husband and a mother of two active teenage boys who keep me busy. God has blessed me with a wonderful family and I praise him for that. I am a girly girl and am out numbered by the males in my house. I have a home based custom drapery and design business. I started sewing when I was 10. Now I enjoy sewing for my home and sewing aprons,purses and other craft projects. I always have a craft project or house project in the works at all times.I also enjoy scrapbooking,making
handmade cards and journals.I never feel as if there is enough time in everyday to do everything that I enjoy!